China provides food aid to Ebola-hit Liberia

MONROVIA — China has delivered a consignment of 1,500 metric tons of food assistance to Liberia for distribution to Ebola patients at various Ebola treatment units across the country.

Speaking at a hand-over ceremony at the Freeport of Monrovia, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Zhang Yue said on Feb 5 the donation was made under the auspices of the Chinese government’s Emergency Ebola Response scheme.

The items valued at $2 million include 1,000 metric tons of rice, corn cereal and beans, which will target over 26,000 households in the country, the Chinese envoy said.

He said China recently sent $6 million worth of food items to the three hard-hit Ebola countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“I am pleased to attend this hand-over ceremony today,” Zhang said, describing it as a typical cooperation between China, UN agencies and the government of Liberia.

The head of Liberia’s Ebola Incidence Management System, Tolbert Nyenswah, who received the donation on behalf of the government, thanked the Chinese people for the assistance.

“This government remembers the great support the Chinese people are rendering Liberia,” he said, adding Liberians “will not forget the invaluable contributions made by the Chinese government. From the inception of this crisis China has contributed immensely to our effort to end ebola.”

The Country Director of the World Food Programme, Adama Diop-Faye lauded China for the goodwill gesture, saying this donation is going to augment the agency’s program to support 6,000 economic and livelihood activities in the country.